Manker Flashlights

Two engineers who met through China's largest LED flashlight forum started Manker, and the company still describes its early products in the terms of that community: its first light was a forum design, and it set out to make lights that were not copies of everything else on the market. The name, it says, means someone walking outside with passion and freedom. It now runs its own CNC and assembly factory alongside design and QC teams, and sells direct through Mankerlight.

The right-angle AA light is the thread running through the models here. The E03H II made Manker's name in that small niche with a Nichia 519A, a magnetic tail and the ability to run on either an AA or a 14500. Manker could not keep it in production through the pandemic, and the E03H III replaced it with better knurling, a stiffer button, the same moonlight levels on either cell, and a choice of a 6500K emitter or a warmer Nichia build. The F14 Flighter takes the right-angle body into work-light territory with separate spot and high-CRI flood beams and two tail magnets. The LAD III is a flat keychain flooder, while the MC11 III and Striker Mini are tactical tail-switch lights, the second a 14500 thrower with a forward clicky and half-press momentary.

Read the warranty against the light you are buying. Manker gives five years on standard flashlights but one year on anything with a built-in battery, which covers the LAD III and F14 Flighter, and on rechargeable batteries. Claims go first to the dealer, within 15 days of the problem appearing.

E03H II owners praise its small hard-anodized body, its build quality and its waterproofing, but note that some versions lack thermal or low-voltage protection, so a protected cell is the safer choice. Anyone shopping for it now should look at the E03H III instead.